Pulley



Nov. 3, 1953 w. A. WILLIAMS 2,657,584

PULLEY Filed Feb. 14, 1950 I s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.-. W1Hia/iiAM/Yfll'ams A TTORNE YS.

BX, I

Nov. 3, 1953 w. A. WILLIAMS 2,657,584

PULLEY Filed Feb. 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR: William A.Wi/iz'ams A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1953 w. A. WILLIAMS PULLEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 14, 1950INVENTOR: William A Williams (21 K (21 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PULLEY William A.Williams, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to The American Pulley Company,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February14, 1950, Serial No. 144,047

9 Claims. (Cl. 74-23017) This invention relates to pulleys. Moreparticularly, it is concerned with pulleys of. the grooved variablediametral pitch type foruse with what are ordinarily known as V belts.

The chief aim of my invention is to provide pulleys of the kind referredto which are simple in construction; which lend themselves toexpeditious production in quantity at small cost; which are easilyadjusted for speed variation; and which are immune against accidentaldisplacement, after adjustment, under operating conditions. I

How the foregoing and other important objects and advantages arerealized in practice, will appear from the following detaileddescription of l the attached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows theelevation of one end of a triple I groove adjustable pulley convenientlyembodying my invention. 7 v

Fig. 2 is a staggered longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated bythe angled arrows II--II in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section showing part of the means bywhich adjustment of the pulley is effected.

Figs. 4,5 and 6, 7 are views, respectively corresponding to Figs. 1 and.2, showing double and single groove adjustable pulleys likewiseconveniently embodying my invention. H In the triple groove formillustrated in Figs. 1

and 2, my improved adjustable pulle'yjcomprises four flange componentswhich are respectively designated by the numerals I, 2, 3 and 4. The

flange of inner component 2 is circumferentially beveled on both sidesas at 5 and has oppositely extending hub portions 6 and 1 with an axialbore extending continuously through them to, fit over a shaft 8. Bymeans of the key indicated at 9, the component 2 is held againstrotation relative to the shaft 8, while a set screw 10 threadedlyengaged in the hub portion 6 and binding upon the key, serves to fixsaid component against displacement longitudinally of said shaft. Theother inner flange component 3 is likewise circumferentially beveled asat H, and has but a single outwardly-extending hub portion I2 to fitover the hub portion 1 of component 2. The outer flange component I iscircumferentially beveled at its inner side only as at I3, and has ashort outward hub portion l5. A set screw I6 threadedly engaged in thehub portion [5 of component 1 projects into a longitudinal groove I! inthe hub portion 6 of component 2. The other outer flange component 4 isidentical to component I in that the inner face of its flange onlyiscircumferentially beveled as at 18, and in that it has an outwardlyextending hub portion l9.- A set screw 20 threadedly engaged in the hubportion 19 or component 4 passes through an elongate slot 2| in the 'hubportion of component 3 and projects into a longitudinal groove 22 in thehub portion 7 of component I. By virtue of the construction justdescribed, the components 3 and i are both held against rotationrelative to component 2, with capacity to be shifted back and forthlongitudinally of shaft 8 in respect to each other and to said component2 for adjustment purposes.

The means provided for adjusting the pulley in accordance with myinvention, includes three screw elements 25, 26 and 21 having polygonalaxial apertures through which a slide key 28 of 7 corresponding crosssectional configuration extends loosely to hold said elements inalignment for rotation together in assembly. As shown in Fig. 2, the twoinner components 2 and 3 have eccentrically disposed transverse holes 29and 30 through their flanges, whereof the ends are oppositely threadedfor engagement by the corresponding ends of the screw elements 25, 26and 21; and two outer components I and 4 have similarly locatedtransverse holes 3| and 32 in their flanges which are threaded tocooperate with the distal ends respectively of the screw elements 25 and21. From Fig. 2, it will be further noted that the mid portion of theaperture in the screw element 27 is reduced in diameter to receive thesimilarly reduced shouldered end 33 of the key 28 which is peened overas at 34 so as to be held in place in the assembly. Adjustment of thepulley may be efiected with the aid of a suitable wrench (notillustrated) having a shank of polygonal cross section to fit intotheunoccupied outer end portion of the axial aperture in the screw element27, turning movement in one direction or the other being communicated tothe other screw elements 25 and 2'! through the slide key connection128.

By reason of the opposite end threading of the screw elements 25 -21, itwill be evident that upon turning them in one direction, the flangecomponents will be concurrently shifted toward each other, and uponturning of said elements in the other direction said components willv beshifted away from each other. In this connection, it is to be noted thatthe length of the slot 2| in the hub portion l2 of flange component 3 issuch as to limit, by cooperation with the set screw 20, the extent towhich the several components may separate, and thus prevent the screwelements 25-21 from running out of the tapped holes in the flanges ofsaid components.

After the desired adjustment is made, the set screws I6 and 20 aretightened to insure against relative accidental displacement of theflange components l-4.

In the double groove adjustable pulley of my invention illustrated inFigs. 4 and 5, there are three flange components la, 20, and 4a whichrespectively correspond to the components I, 2"

and 4 of the first described embodiment. As before, the component la, isaxially slidable on one hub portion 6a of component 2a. Here however,

the component 4a is axially shiftable directly on the hub portion 1a ofthe component 2a. A further modification to be observed. is thatthesetscrew 20a, in hub 19a of component 4w extends into thelongitudinal groove 22a in'the hub portion 1a of component 2a, andthatthe; length of said groove is such as to limit the extent to which thecomponent 10, may be shifted. In this instance but two screw elements25a. and 2111 are required in the adjusting means, these being identicalwith the elements 25 and 21 of the first.

embodiment, and. connectedfor. concurrent; rotation similarly by a slidekey. 28a. of poly onal cross section. All other partsnot. specificallyreferred to in connection with Figs. 4.- and but having theircounterparts the first described embodiment, areidentified bythesamereferencenumeralspreviouslyused with addition, in each.

8band constrained tolongitudinal shifting thereon,foradjustmentpurposes, by the key- 9b;

In this case, the adjustment-means consists of a singlescrewelement-2512- which isidentical with the element 25 of the firstdescribed-ernbodi ment and; which has its oppositely threadedendsthreadedly engagedin the correspondingly tapped; holes 31b and 32b inthehubs [5b and 19b of After the desired the two flange components.adjustment is made, the set screws lBband 20!; are tightened to securethe flange components lb, flb'against relative axial displacementon' theshaft 81).

Having thus described my invention; Iclaim:

1. In a variable pitch triple groovepulley, an,

intermediate. pair of juxtaposed opposing components with flangescircumferentially beveledfl on opposite sides, one. of said componentsadapt.-

ed to be fixedly secured to a shaft, and the other held against rotationrelative to the first mentioned component but axially shiftable. towardand away from it; a second, pair of components,

with flanges circumfercntially beveled at their inner sides torespectivelyoppose the components of the first pair and heldagainstrotation relative to the latter components but shiftable to-, Ward andaway. from them respectively; a plurality of axially-alignedadjustingscrew elements respectively with oppositely threaded ends, one

element with its opposite ends engaged in correspondingly threadedendsof transverse holes in the first mentioned pair of components, and.

the other elements each with one of its ends engaging a correspondinginternal thread in. the

opposite endof the hole in one of thecomponents oi. the. first mentionedpair, and itsother; end. in a corresponding-internally threaded, holethe matin component, of the, secondrai and means connecting the severalscrew elements for rotation together with capacity to shift axiallyrelative to each other in adjusting the pulley.

2. A variable pitch pulley according to claim 1, further including stopmeans to limit the extent of separation of the flange componentsincident to adjusting the pulley.

3. In a multiple groovev variable pitehpulley, a' plurality of flangecomponents all mounted against relative rotation upon a shaft withcapacity to be shifted therealong, axially-aligned one piece screwelements with oppositely threaded ends engaged in aligned holescorrespondingly--tappedfrom opposite ends in respectivelyadjacentflanges; and means connecting the screw elements for rotation together,with capacity toshift axially; relative to each other incident toadjustment of the pulley.

4; A multiple groove variable pitch pulley according to claim 3, whereinthe several adjusting screw elements have polygonal axial apertures;

wherein the connecting means is in the form of I a key: of correspondingcross sectionengaging. through apertures inthe. several screw elementswith a slide --fit; and wherein said keyis fixed in one ofsaidscrewelements.

5. A -multiple groovevariable pitch pulley ace cording to claim 3,wherein theseveraladjust ing screw elements have polygonal axialapertures; whereinthe-connecting means-is in the form of akeyofcorresponding cross section engaging through the apertures in theseveral screwelements witha slide fit; andwherein said key extends part'way into and is fixed in oneof the- 6. In a double groove variablepitch" pulley comprising a center-flange component adapted to be fixedlysecured to a shaft; opposing outerfiange components held againstrotation relative to the firstcomponent bu-t'axially'movable towardandaway-from-it; a pair of axially aligned" adjusting. screw elementsrespectively having oppositely threaded ends,- the confronting ends ofsaid elements; being: engaged respectively incorresponding internalthreads at opposite ends of a;

transverse. hole through the flange of the center lcomponent, and'the;remote ends of said-elements being engaged respectively in correspondinginternal' threads. of transverse holes through the flanges ofthje twoouter. components; and means.

connecting the. two screw elements for rotation LtOgetherWith capacit toshift axially relative to each other inci e t to just nt o he u ey- 7. Adouble groove variable pitchv pulley according to claim 5,;whereinthecenter component.

ha oppe itely tending h b po ere n the outer. components are mountedrespectively ont ie oppositely x n i g u por ion of. thecentercomponent; and wherein set screws ,en gaged intheyouter componentsextendjinto ion,- gitudinalguidegrooves in. the respective opposite hubportions .pf. said center. component.

8;: In a variable pitch triple groovepulley, an. interm d a e pa r o jutap ed oppo ing- 0.0m ponents with. flanges cir,cumferentially beveledon .opppsitesides, one of said comppnents adapted to be fixedly; securedto ashait, and the-other held; against :rotationrelative: to the firstmen: o d componen nd-away irom..1t:;.:

but ax a y .shiftable toward. a second-pair of components with: flan es:circnmierentiail-y. beveled at their; inner Sid s. itO re pectivelyoppose .thecomponents of the first pair and held against rotationrelative to the latter components but shiftable toward and away fromthem respectively; a plurality of axially-aligned adjusting screwelements respectively with oppositely threaded ends, one element withits opposite ends engaged in correspondingly threaded ends of transverseholes in the first mentioned pair of components, and the other elementseach with one of its ends engaging a corresponding internal thread inthe opposite end of the hole in one of the components of the firstmentioned pair, and its other end in a corresponding internally threadedhole in the mating component of the second pair; and means whereby theseveral screw elements may be rotated together with capacity to shiftaxially relative to each other in adjusting the pulley.

9. In a double groove variable pitch pulley comprising a center flangecomponent adapted to be fixedly secured to a shaft; opposing outerflange components held against rotation relative to the first componentbut axially movable toward and away from it; a pair of axially alignedadjusting screw elements respectively having oppositely threaded ends,the confronting ends of said elements being engaged respectively incorresponding internal threads at opposite ends of a transverse holethrough the flange of the center component, and the remote ends of saidelements being engaged respectively in corresponding internal threads oftransverse holes through the flanges of the two outer components; andmeans whereby the two screw elements may be rotated together withcapacity to shift axially relative to each other incident to adjustmentof the pulley.

WILLIAM A. WILLIAMS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 516,197 Given Mar. 13, 1894 1,881,028 Meyer Oct. 4, 19322,158,047 Weston May 9, 1939 2,234,917 Koch Mar. 11, 1941

